Alec Baldwin says his Twitter split is forever

Alec Baldwin, who shut down his Twitter account last week in the aftermath of a rant in which he defended his wife against errant claims by a British publication, says he'll remain off the social network forever.

It's the third time the former "30 Rock" star has quit Twitter, and perhaps the third time is the charm.

Asked by Vanity Fair if and when he intended to reopen his account, he replied, "Never. No."

Seems the most recent episode, which revolved around a story incorrectly saying Hilaria Baldwin had been tweeting frivolities at James Gandolfini's funeral, led to an epiphany for the actor.

"I went to Jimmy Gandolfini’s funeral, and when I was there I realized Jimmy Gandolfini didn’t have Twitter," he told the mag. "Jimmy Gandolfini was so beloved as a person, and he was so admired as an actor, and he didn’t give a ... about social media.

"I really learned a lesson at the funeral. I said to myself, this is all a waste of time. Meaning it’s fun sometimes, but less and less, and less. It’s just another chink in your armor for people to come and kill you. I stopped and said to myself, I’m going to try where I just don’t do this anymore."

(Interesting timing there, to have that kind of revelation at the funeral and then turn ballistic right afterward. But perhaps we're not meant to take the time elements literally. We get what you mean, Alec.)

Baldwin had previously told Gothamist something along the same lines: "Twitter began for me as a way to bypass the mainstream media and talk directly to my audience and say, 'Hey here’s a show I’m doing, here’s something I’m doing.' But I realized it’s something I’m not really ... it certainly isn’t worth the trouble."

Another thing he let slip to Vanity Fair: He wouldn't mind quitting acting, if it meant that the daughter he and his wife are expecting wouldn't know of him as a "public person."

"That would be heaven for me," he said, adding later about quitting acting, "I would love to. If I could find something else to do."